Some fans accuse organizer of gatekeeping local Renaissance fair community.
Ren Faire PH is facing backlash after discouraging other local events from using the term “ren faire,” citing its trademark claim over the name in the Philippines.
Ahead of its November event in Tagaytay, Ren Faire PH warned other organizers against using “ren faire” or “confusingly similar event names.”
“This helps preserve the identity of Ren Faire PH, protects our trademark and avoids confusion within the local community,” the group said in a now-deleted Facebook post on July 24.
The warning accompanied a meme titled, “A friendly warning from RFPH: Ren Faire PH is a registered trademark,” where two characters talked about avoiding the use of the term.
The group later issued an apology on July 25, admitting that the meme was made in bad taste.
“All of our events are still currently non-profit,” the organizer said. “Most of our events are backed by amazing MSMEs that we appreciate (…) While people may think it is unnecessary and greedy, these registration documents are necessary for us since they are commonly being requested from us for a multitude of reasons.”
Despite the apology, some fans said the move could discourage other groups from organizing independent events in an already niche creative community.
“Instead of being happy that more people are discovering and appreciating Renaissance fairs, they’re choosing to gatekeep the community,” one Facebook user commented.
Emerging artists also expressed disappointment, saying the issue adds to concerns over the decline of niche creative conventions following problems involving another event organizer earlier this year.
In May, Patrons of the Arts reportedly left merchants and artists uncertain after suddenly canceling its remaining events for the year and changing its refund provisions.
“Patron of the Arts and Ren Faire PH getting cancelled in the same year isn’t in my 2026 bingo card y’all,” one Facebook user said.
A Renaissance fair, or ren faire, is an outdoor gathering centered on medieval-inspired art, fashion, performance, and activities, drawing from European Renaissance themes. The modern ren faire movement is widely believed to have begun in the United States in the 1960s.
Ren Faire PH claims to be the first renaissance fair in the Philippines, staging its first events in 2024 and 2025. The two iterations gathered thousands of artists, cosplayers, performers and enthusiasts in Baguio to celebrate fantasy-themed media and pop culture.
The ASEAN Intellectual Property Portal shows that “Ren Faire PH” was filed for trademark registration in November 2023. The trademark was registered for “events for the purpose of entertainment” in April 2024 and will remain valid until April 2034. No other ASEAN country currently holds an event trademark over the terms “ren faire” or “renaissance fair.”
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